Improvement in electric clocks



S.A.KBNNBDY.

` ELECTRIC CLOCK.

Nq 99,321. 'Patente-mnh. 1, 1870.

@Il lllluiE-Illqgn f y mrmzssfs; y l INVEANTOR:

dilated (States.

tutti @Wire SAMUEL A. KENNEDY, OF ATTLEBOROUGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KENNEDY ELECTRIC-CLOCK COMPANY, OF NEW YORK CITY.

L'ctvters Patent N0.V99,321, dated .February 1, 1870.

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRIC CLOCKS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all whom it may concern .is driven directly by the pinion of the ratchet-wheel,

thus* diminishing the resistance in the clock-train, so thatthe motive-power which is applied through the pendulum, may also be decreasedfand the clock rendered more simple in construction, and more accurate in operation, as will be fully understood from the following description, in whch- Figure l represents a front elevation of my improved electric clock, parts being broken away in order to show its construction more fully.

Figure 2 is a side view of the same.

Figure 3 is a perspective View ofthe bridge.

Figure 4 is a perspective view of the adjustable holder for the pendulum.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents a board or tablet, corresponding to the back of the clock-case, to which the several parts of the clock are attached, and from which project arms B B, on which the upright plates C C aresupported.

The arms B B are attened and slotted on that portioxi on which the plates C C rest, which plates are held secure to the arms B B, by means of screws D D, which ruu into the pillarsE E, which extend between plates C C, asshown.

lhe electric coil F, enclosed within an ornamental ca'se, F', is a hollow oblong, adapted in form and positiou to receive the end of a permanent magnet, G, which is carried by or forms part of the pendulmu G'; but I also propose, in some cases, to reverse the position ofthe coil and magnet, using the electriccoil on the pendulum, and making the magnet stationary. In

- either case, the joint repulsion between the coil aud magnet, keeps up the oscillations ofthe pendulum.

Upon thc side of the pendulum, opposite the case 'F, is placed a similar case, F, merely for ornamental some suitable non-conducting material, and over the top of which, at s s', and front at :c 9;', extend metallic strips to connect with the screws yy of the armsjj'.

The two supports J J' always remain electrically insulated from each other, except when connected by the metallic-slide L, the points of which move in a guiding-groove, w 1v', whic i extends across the upper face ofthe plates z i, and the bridge K, substantially as shown.

The slide L'is formed ofa single bar of metal, having a depression in its centre, and a shoulder at cach side of the depression, as shown, against which shoul- 'ports I I. The direction of the current must be such that both the coil F and the magnet Im must present like polarities toward each other.

The circuit is closed at s s', after the magnet on has passed into the coil F', and just before the pendulum arrives at the point of rest, when, by the natural 1epulsion of coil and magnet, the pendulum is driven back to the other end of its arc of oscillation, but just before arriving there, the piu l takes the slide L back, and, the circuit is again interrupted, and remains broken, until the pendulum has returned, aud the magnet re-entcred the coil, as before described.

The level' S, suspended from the rock-shaft P', is moved aside by the pendulum, but returning by its own gravity, drives the clock-train.

'lhe arm in which the pawl p is pivoted, is also at- N is a pinion on the shaft of the ratchet-wheel O,

which pinion meshes in the teeth of the train-wheel M, and imparts motion thereto.

By this arrangement of a single train-wheel with the ratchet-wheel, the resistance is diminished, and less drivY` ing-power is required.

lu order to render the resistance to the pendulum constant, the spaces through which the weight or lever S is carrie-d, must be always equal. 'lo secure this equality of distance, I employ the stop-pin It, or other suitable device, to arrest the descent of the lcvcr S at a fixed point, where the pendulum, by passing on, leaves ir, and returning, receives it again.

The pendulum-rod is constructed of wood, kiln-driod,

`and lled in with paraine, glycerine, or other like sub- -.V, so that it may be moved up or down on the spring T, by turning the. thumb-screw W for the purpose ot', regulating the oscillations ofthe pendulum.

X is a spring, which bears on the shaft of pinion N, to prevent any retrograde motion thereof.

Having tlms described my invention,

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Lettels Patent, is-

1. The method of vibrating a pendulum, having a magnet attached thereto, by the repulsion of a single elect-rie coil, always having the same polarity as the end ofthe magnet opposite thereto, and whose connection with the battery is intermittently broken.

2. For the use and purposes of an electric clock, the employmentl of a clock-train, consisting of a single wheel, M, driven directly by the pinion of the ratchet, which is in turn driven by the pendulum-lever.

, 3. Regulating the angle and extent of catch of the driving-pawl of a clock, by means of the rock-shaft 1*' and screw P, arranged and operatedin the manner described.'

4. The combination of the set-screw NV, slide U,

Yand its parts, and the spring T at the top of the pendulum, to adjust the length of the latter, substantially as herein shown and described.

5. Rendering the resistance of the lever S to the pendulum uniform, by always arresting the gravitating movement of said lever at a xed point, in the manner described.

6. Also, the manner of adjusting t-he position of the elect-ric coil F, by having a slotted bar, Y', with setscrew extending through it into the board or tablet A, substantially as shown.

SAMUEL A. KENNEDY.

Witnesses WM. MARTINDELL, J 0E. J. MARTINDELL. 

